Wireless printers (with WiFi connectivity) offer us the ability to easily print documents from any computer, desktop or laptop, without the need for USB cables, which undoubtedly offers many advantages.
But there is no doubt that it offers a greater number of advantages when we use it with a laptop , since, by not needing cables, it is possible to print documents from any room in our house or office, since we do not have to be connected to a cable.
Likewise, if we have a wireless printer, it is perfectly possible to print files that we send by email, a useful option when we cannot connect to the WiFi network.
In any case, it is clear that it is also perfectly possible to connect the printer to a laptop using a USB cable. For all this, below we explain what are the different options available. Take note.
Connecting our wireless printer to the WiFi network
Wireless printers work through a network connection , so a simple option is to use it, for example, through WiFi connectivity.
Although it is true that the instructions to follow when connecting the wireless printer to our WiFi network will vary depending on the manufacturer, hence it is highly advisable to read the manual before, in many cases it is enough to follow a series of basic steps.
We will start by placing the printer where we want it to go. Then, we turn on both the WiFi router and the laptop (in case we have not turned them on yet). Next, we turn on the printer.
In the control panel of the printer , we go to the wireless settings . We choose the name of our WiFi network (SSID), and then we enter the security password of the WiFi connection. Finally, when the printer connects to the network, the corresponding light will stay on.
Connecting our printer to a laptop via USB cable
When the WiFi connectivity option does not work at all, or we simply do not have a wireless printer, another option available, useful and simple, is to connect the printer to our laptop using a USB cable (or using a printer cable, depending on its compatibility).
Therefore, we connect the printer by USB and turn it on. Although it is not so common anymore, it is advisable to install the necessary software and drivers if the operating system is unable to find the printer.
Once this is done, it is possible to select the Add printer option within Windows or macOS, so that the printer is finally linked and configured. In this way, by choosing it as the default, the computer or Mac will send the documents to the corresponding printer and start printing them (as long as it is turned on, and it has paper and ink).
